the middle.

A gun was placed on each side of this, and twenty sacks of earth laid
down by the side of the opening, so that this in the course of a few
minutes could be closed, and a gun placed close by run into position
between the other two. The greater part of the men, however, were
employed in raising a mound of stones and earth in front of the gateway,
so as to cover this from the fire of any guns which, after the outward
intrenchment had been stormed, might be brought up on to the plateau.
The women, and even the children, assisted in the work by carrying
earth, while men, with the horses and carts, brought stones up from the
valley.

It took a fortnight's hard work before the outwork was completed. It was
twenty feet high, triangular in form, and solid in construction. Many
of the tenants were accustomed to stonework; and while the rest of the
bastion was constructed of rough stones mixed with earth, a parapet four
feet thick, of roughly dressed stones, was carried along on the crest
of the two outward sides. Four guns were mounted here; the rest of the
cannon were placed on the outer wall instead of the honeycombed guns
before in position, and the castle was thus prepared to stand a regular
siege.

Hector remained for a week after the work was completed, paid the
tenants liberally for the services they had rendered, and dismissed them
to their homes, for the terrible blow that had been inflicted upon them
had so cowed the peasants that order had been completely restored in
that part of Poitou. Then, after taking an affectionate adieu of Madame
de Blenfoix and her daughter, he rode back to Paris, where he remained
for two months.

At the end of that time, being heartily tired of the frivolity and
intrigues, and disgusted at the immorality of the court, he obtained
leave from Mazarin to rejoin his regiment, as the campaign might be
expected to open shortly again. The cardinal had warmly congratulated
him upon the suppression of the insurrection in Poitou, of which he had
received full details from his agents long before Hector reached Paris.

"I have always exhorted the officers and the troops engaged in putting
down these risings to spill no more blood than is absolutely necessary.
But it needed a great lesson, such as you have given them. Otherwise, as
soon as the troops were withdrawn the peasants would rise again."

Turenne had also been in Paris, and had strongly represented to Mazarin
the necessity f